Advertise on podcast: Wiser World

These are seven of my favorite books from around the world. They’re the ones that changed how I see history, other cultures and people. Some are funny, some are hopeful, and a few are honestly hard to read. But almost all of them are true stories about ordinary people holding on to their humanity, and to each other, in extraordinary circumstances. To get links to each book, plus two other books I hope people will read, head to Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast. You'll also get ad-free episodes + extra resources to deepen your understanding of what we study. Join Wiser World on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here's the goal of this episode: to give you a practical framework for recognizing the patterns that can weaken a democracy before the answer becomes obvious. Because these days, authoritarianism often doesn't arrive with tanks in the streets or a coup. Often it develops gradually, through elections, legal changes, weakened institutions, and leaders who argue that the normal rules are getting in the way. In this episode, we look at warning signs of authoritarianism through stories from Peru, France, the Philippines, Venezuela, and more. Using a framework from political scientists Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, we’ll explore four questions you can ask of any political leader, along with ideas from Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Anne Applebaum, Sergei Guriev, Daniel Treisman, and Timothy Snyder. Books mentioned:How Democracies Die — Steven Levitsky & Daniel ZiblattStrongmen — Ruth Ben-GhiatSpin Dictators — Sergei Guriev & Daniel TreismanTwilight of Democracy — Anne ApplebaumAutocracy, Inc. — Anne ApplebaumOn Tyranny — Timothy Snyder Support the podcast and get ad-free episodes + bonus resources at patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast. ⁠Sources⁠ used in this episode. Join Wiser World on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If a country holds elections, does that make it a democracy? Not necessarily. In this episode, we look beyond the ballot box and explore seven principles that help make democratic government actually democratic: popular sovereignty, real elections, limits on power, the rule of law, legitimate political opposition, access to independent information, and the peaceful transfer of power. We’ll also confront one of democracy’s longest-running questions: Who counts as “the people”? This episode isn’t a complete history of democracy. It’s a practical framework for recognizing what democracy requires—and what to watch for when those principles begin to disappear. Sources used in this episode. Support the podcast, get ad-free episodes, and additional resources to deepen your learning at Patreon. Join Wiser World on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is fascism—and how does it actually take hold? In this episode, we trace the rise of fascism from post–World War I Italy to Hitler’s Germany, looking at the fear, economic instability, political violence, and national humiliation that helped these movements grow. Then we break down how historians define fascism and the warning signs they look for. This is a foundational primer designed to help you understand fascism as a real historical phenomenon—not just a political insult—and recognize the patterns that made it so dangerous. Sources used in making this episode Support the podcast, get ad-free episodes, and additional resources to deepen your learning at Patreon. Join Wiser World on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special collaborative episode, Wiser World joins The Women in the Arena and Iron Butterfly Podcast for a conversation about what it means to think like a global citizen. I sit down with Sarah Scully, Megan Jaffer, and Cadie Hopkins to explore how we can broaden our perspectives, better understand the world around us, and become more thoughtful global thinkers. Want to learn more? Check out The Women in the Arena Podcast and the Iron Butterfly Podcast. For more resources and ad-free content for Wiser World, head to ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast⁠⁠⁠ Join Wiser World on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For my 100th episode, I'm sharing 5 patterns that I have learned from studying world history. For more resources and ad-free content, head to ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast⁠⁠⁠ Join us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A brief historical and cultural recap of Puerto Rico for those who know little to nothing about it. For more resources and ad-free content, head to ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast⁠⁠ Special thanks for Tiana and Luis for their thoughts in this episode! Here's a little about them, in their own words: We're Tiana and Luis, a husband-and-wife team sharing our love for Puerto Rico through local tips, cultural insight, and hidden gems. Luis was born and raised in Caguas and Puerto Rico has always been home for him. I studied Spanish Language and Latin American Studies in college, and over the years traveling back and forth to the island turned into something much deeper for both of us. Eventually we moved here full-time to be closer to Luis's family and the culture and lifestyle that matter most to us. Now we help visitors experience Puerto Rico authentically—not just the beaches, but the food, the culture, and the hidden gems that make the island unforgettable. Instagram: @Lt.ortizdiaz Tiktok: @Lt.ortizdiaz Travel Guide Link: Puerto Rico Insider Transcript for this episode. Join us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A brief historical and cultural recap of Spain for travelers and non-travelers who want to learn more about this layered, unique country. For more resources and ad-free content, head to ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast⁠⁠ Transcript for this episode. Join us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A brief historical and cultural recap of Greece for travelers and non-travelers who want to learn more about this fascinating and unique country. For more resources and ad-free content, head to ⁠https://www.patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast⁠ Special thanks to Georgios for his contribution to this episode! Sources used in making this episode. Transcript for this episode. Join us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A brief historical and cultural recap of Mexico for travelers and non-travelers who want to learn more about this fascinating and unique country. For more resources and ad-free content, head to https://www.patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast Sources used in making this episode. Special thanks to Paulina Bruce and Adriana Ochoa for their insights in this episode! Transcript for this episode. Join us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A brief historical and cultural recap of New Zealand for travelers and non-travelers who want to learn more about this fascinating and unique country. For more resources and ad-free content, head to https://www.patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast Special thanks to Larna Jensen-McCloy and Courtney McNaught for their contributions to this episode! Really appreciate you both. Sources used in making this episode. Transcript for this episode. Join us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Harini Bhat is a clinical pharmacist and storyteller obsessed with the moments in history that still can't be fully explained. Every week she investigates real events that defy easy explanation. Mass hysterias. Vanished civilizations. Medical oddities. Strange signals. Unexplained phenomena that keep repeating across centuries, as if history is trying to tell us something. Hidden History doesn't dismiss ancient events as myth or superstition. It treats them as open case files, shaped by the limits of knowledge, technology, and record-keeping. Because the unknown isn't a failure of explanation. It's a constant in human experience, one that evolves, repeats, and sometimes deepens the more we learn. Follow Hidden History with Dr. Harini Bhat now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch on YouTube @hiddenhistorypod. Listen here:  ⁠https://pod.link/1895066656 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A brief historical and cultural recap of Bhutan for travelers and non-travelers who want to learn more about this fascinating and unique country. For additional resources, head to Patreon, where you get ad-free episodes and lots of ways to visualize this episode. Special thanks to Kinley Dorji from Druk Asia and Chencho Lham from soultrips.co for their contribution to this episode! If you're interested in traveling to Bhutan, be sure to check out Druk Asia! Sources used in making this episode. Transcript for this episode. Join us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A brief historical and cultural recap of Hawai'i for travelers and non-travelers who want to learn more about this incredible place. For additional resources, head to Patreon. *Corrections: Despite best efforts, I mispronounced some words in this episode and want to correct them here—most I did not pronounce the glottal stop that comes with the apostrophe: Kaho’olawe = Kah-ho-oh-la-vay; Moloka’i = Mo-lo-ka-ee; Lana’i = La-na-ee; ukulele = oo-koo-lay-lay; song=Mele; chant=oli pronounced oh-lee; Kalākaua = ka-lā-cow-ah (emphasis on lā); Liliʻuokalani=Lee-Lee-ooh-oh-ka-la-nee. My apologies.  Sources used in making this episode. Special thanks for Rachel Cox for her assistance in research for this episode, the McQuiveys for insights, Malie and Cheryl Iwami-Benn for their audio additions, and Kailea for help with pronunciation.  Transcript for this episode. Find additional resources, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and support the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, my guest, Shahnila Ahmad, explains the holy month of Dhul Hijjah and the holiday of Eid al-Adha to those who know little to nothing about it. You can also watch this conversation on Youtube. About Shahnila: Shahnila Ahmad is a homeschool mom of four, parent mentor, and ICF-certified coach who is passionate about helping Muslim parents raise emotionally connected, resilient children. She is deeply interested in broadening education and historical narratives by uplifting diverse voices and minority perspectives, and encouraging a more thoughtful, multi-lens understanding of the world. In a time when societal values are constantly shifting, she is committed to staying rooted in the timeless principles of her faith, passing them forward in a way that cultivates justice, compassion, and goodness for all people. Through her platform @BraveMuslimParents, she supports families with practical, faith-centered guidance for intentional parenting. Shahnila's Resources: Eid Day About Eid al-Adha Explaining Eid al-Adha to non-Muslims The Prophet's Last Sermon Find additional resources, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and support the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices