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Artwork for The Smart Cookies podcast

The Smart Cookies podcast

Zaza
French Revolution
Climate Change
Consciousness
Artificial Intelligence
Nazism
China
Occult
Neanderthals
Louis XVI
Crusades
Esotericism
Gladiators
Cultural Psychology
Totalitarianism
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The Terror
Witchcraft
Nazi Germany
United States
Social Media

Deep-dive conversations with the world's leading minds. European host Zaza looks beyond the mainstream to explore history, technology, philosophy, psychology, and science.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes92Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PhilosophySociety & CultureHistory

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Artwork for The Smart Cookies podcast

Latest Episodes

I'm super stoked to welcome back the legendary blogger, journalist and author of Enshittification, Cory Doctorow.

This time around we tackle his latest book, The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI: How to Think About Artificial Intelligence —... more

YouTube

I'm super happy to welcome dr. Christopher Harding, lecturer in Asian history at the University of Edinburgh, back to the show, to have a chat about his amazing upcoming book, "Barbarians: The First Century of European Encounter with Japan."

This ti... more

YouTube

Medieval historian and champion of the podcast, Prof. Nicholas Morton (from Nottingham Trent University) is back on the pod to talk about the feverish history of the Crusades - only this time, we explore the subject from the perspective of the Muslim... more

In 2015, Carlos Barragan, a young Spanish journalist working for The New York Times, received a surprise - his mother, having long being single, told him she finally met somebody on Tinder. The man's name was Brian and he was an American soldier stat... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Carlos Barragán
Correspondent for New York Times, author of The Yahoo Boys, Love, Deception and the Real Lives of Nigeria's Romance Scammers
New York Times
Episode: The Wild Lives of Nigerian Romance Scammers | Carlos Barragan
Emma Southon
Roman historian and author known for works such as Agrippina, Empress Exile, Hustler Whore
Academic/Author
Episode: Ancient Roman Slavery: The Cruel Reality Behind The Empire | Dr. Emma Southon
Lyndal Roper
Emeritus regius professor of history at the University of Oxford; Holberg Prize Laureate; author of Summer of Fire and Blood
University of Oxford
Episode: The German Peasants' War: The Bloody History Of Medieval Rebellion | Prof. Lyndal Roper
Katja Hoyer
Historian and author discussed in-depth in the episode
Episode: Weimar And The Terrifying Speed Of The Nazi Takeover Of Germany | Katja Hoyer
Pieter Judson
Professor of history, European University Institute
European University Institute
Episode: Why Did The Habsburg Empire Suddenly Collapse? | Pieter Judson
Tony Spawforth
Emeritus Professor of Ancient History at Newcastle University
Newcastle University
Episode: Ancient Greece History: Debunking Myths On Race and Culture | Prof. Tony Spawforth
Norman Ohler
Author and historian
Author of Blitzed and Tripped
Episode: Nazi Human Experiments: The True History Of World War II Truth Serums | Norman Ohler
Dan Cassino
Professor of Government and Politics at Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Episode: Cryptocurrency And Masculinity: Why Some Men Risk Everything On Bitcoin | Dr. Dan Cassino
Philip Cozzolino
Research Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, Division of Perceptual Studies, University of Virginia
University of Virginia
Episode: The Psychology Of Past Life Memories: Near-Death Research Explained | Dr. Philipp Cozzolino

Host

Zaza
Host of the show; guides interviews and introductions topics

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 89 ratings
  • A wonderful interview

    A really global view of our economic prospects.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CharlieBulbeck
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Really interesting in depth interviews.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Bragcat
    10 months ago
  • Excellent podcast

    Subject area experts speaking at length about their field with good questions sprinkled in. Highly recommend. I came for the French Revolution with David Andress and have now bought his book.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sfinbar
    United States10 months ago
  • Infectious curiosity

    This has become one of my favourite podcasts. The host’s voracious curiosity and wide ranging interests especially in history and philosophy open up interesting doors. While some of the earlier episodes are wobbly, over time it has become an excellent entertaining source of information.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jim B Canada
    Canadaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Voracious curiosity and breadth of topics keep conversations lively and informative.
Experts in history and policy provide deep context and fresh perspectives.
Engaging, wide-ranging discussions with accessible storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#62
Indonesia/History
Apple Podcasts
#159
Norway/History
Apple Podcasts
#186
Finland/History
Apple Podcasts
#235
Poland/History
Apple Podcasts
#245
Denmark/History
Apple Podcasts
#248
Singapore/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why The Odyssey Is Actually About A Broken War Veteran | Prof. Peter Meineck
Q: What did you think of Nolan's Odyssey trailer and initial impressions of the film's approach to the myth?
The guest expressed cautious optimism about turning The Odyssey into a film, acknowledging the difficulty of containing the story while hoping the director can preserve its depth and the veterans' resonance with the material.
The Wild Lives of Nigerian Romance Scammers | Carlos Barragan
Q: What surprised you most in your research about the psychology and daily lives of these Yahoo Boys?
The guest highlights the loneliness, harsh living conditions, and the fragile balance between cunning and vulnerability, showing that many scammers are driven by more than greed and that their environment shapes their choices as much as personal motives.
The Wild Lives of Nigerian Romance Scammers | Carlos Barragan
Q: Welcome to the pod. How did you come to cover this story and why did you choose to write a book rather than a magazine piece?
The host explains that he wanted to go beyond stereotypes, build a deeper, more nuanced portrait of the scammers and their world, and that the on-the-ground exploration with a fixer and local scammers revealed layers that a magazine piece wouldn't capture.
The German Peasants' War: The Bloody History Of Medieval Rebellion | Prof. Lyndal Roper
Q: Why did the Peasants' War ultimately fail, despite initial momentum?
The peasants faced superior military organization, better armament in some cases, and crucial political divisions among the lords, which, combined with strategic miscalculations, led to decisive royal and noble counteroffensives.
The German Peasants' War: The Bloody History Of Medieval Rebellion | Prof. Lyndal Roper
Q: What role did the Reformation play in enabling the Peasants' War?
The Reformation provided a theological framework and a language of rights that peasants used to articulate their demands, while also creating tensions and potential allies among townsfolk and preachers who shaped revolutionary rhetoric.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Smart Cookies podcast

What is The Smart Cookies podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A historically focused interview series that blends deep scholarly context with accessible storytelling. Episodes span ancient empires, medieval and modern revolutions, cultural shifts, economics, and frontier science, often featuring university professors, historians, and researchers who illuminate how past crises and ideas shape today's world. The show tends to favor thoughtful, evidence-based discussion with vivid historical anecdotes, encouraging listeners to connect long-run patterns with contemporary issues. Notable strengths include a steady stream of established academics, a clear curiosity-driven host style, and topics that attract listeners who enjoy rigorous analysis presented in a conversational format.

A standout quality is th... more

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How many listeners does The Smart Cookies podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Smart Cookies podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does The Smart Cookies podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Smart Cookies podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Smart Cookies podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Smart Cookies podcast:

1. Intelekta
2. Globalna vas
3. Atmosferci
4. Money-How
5. AIDEA Podkast

How many episodes of The Smart Cookies podcast are there?

The Smart Cookies podcast launched 4 years ago and published 92 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Smart Cookies podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Smart Cookies podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Smart Cookies podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Smart Cookies podcast?

Recent guests on The Smart Cookies podcast include:

1. Carlos Barragán
2. Emma Southon
3. Lyndal Roper
4. Katja Hoyer
5. Pieter Judson
6. Tony Spawforth
7. Norman Ohler
8. Dan Cassino

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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