Podcast
Smart Girl Dumb Questions
Hosted by Nayeema Raza · EN
It's a curiosity party, and you're invited. On Smart Girl Dumb Questions, Nayeema Raza asks simple Qs to big thinkers (like Neil deGrasse Tyson, Diplo, or two 11 year olds), trying to make sense of life.
Send us your dumb Qs: nayeema.raza101@gmail.com
63episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Why Is Love Harder Now? Ft. Esther Perel
Sep 3001:05:31Summary readyWhy 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 that. 🔔 Subscribe to @smartgirldumbquestions so you don’t miss a thing! https://www.youtube.com/@smartgirldumbquestions?sub_confirmation=1 🤳 Follow Smart Girl Dumb Questions on Instagram and TikTok https://www.instagram.com/smartgirldumbquestions/ https://www.tiktok.com/@smartgirldumbquestions 📱 Follow Nayeema on Instagram and X https://www.instagram.com/nayeemaraza https://x.com/nayeema?lang=en ❓ Want to be in a future episode? Send your dumb questions to nayeemaraza101@gmail.com! 🎙️ About Smart Girl Dumb Questions & Nayeema Nayeema Raza is an independent journalist and filmmaker whose work has been in The New York Times, New York Magazine, Vox and the Tribeca Film Festival. Nayeema produced and hosted podcasts like Mixed Signals, On with Kara Swisher, Sway, and Open to Debate before launching her own show: Smart Girl Dumb Questions. Now she’s on YouTube as a self-proclaimed smart girl, asking the dumbest questions she can think of to the smartest humans she can find. Be sure not to miss her conversations with Mark Cuban, Neil deGrasse Tyson, 11-Year Olds Sophie and Dilan and more. Because in a world with so much to learn, being a know-it-all is the only dumb thing she could be! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Season 2 - Coming in Hot!
Sep 2900:00:59Summary readyThe 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Season 2 - Coming to You Hot!
Sep 2900:00:59Summary readyThe 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. Oh and check out our Last Dumb Question street series on IG or TikTok. Your LDQs are welcome, just email nayeemaraza101@gmail.com. Stay curious. Stay hot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Are We Really Having Less Sex? with Dr. Justin Garcia
Sep 501:03:17Summary readyWhat 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Who’s Running for NYC Mayor? with Eric Adams
Aug 1, 202501:13:41Summary readyWould 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? How much has he delivered when it comes to policing crime, relieving medical debt, and building affordable housing? What would he do with another 4 years? 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Why Can’t We Have More Parties? with Lee Drutman
Jul 18, 202501:14:47Summary readyHow 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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If Everyone’s Got Anxiety, Does Anyone Have Anxiety? with Dr. Ellen Vora
Jul 11, 202501:16:35Summary readyIs 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Is the Iran War Over … or On Pause? with Vali Nasr
Jun 27, 202501:07:15Summary readyWhat 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? Why do all Iran’s proxies start with “H”? Oh, and should I roll my eyes when someone says Eye-ran? 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How Do Kids Change Your Life? with Alison Roman & Max Cantor
Jun 20, 202500:59:28Summary readyWill 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Why Go On Reality TV? with Rebecca Minkoff
Jun 6, 202500:49:31Summary readyIs 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 do 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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