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Indonesian Literature
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Tune in every other week to catch interviews with the liveliest voices from literature, the arts, sciences, history, and public affairs; reports on cutting-edge works in progress; long-form narratives; and compelling excerpts from new books. A podcast from The American Scholar magazine. Hosted by Stephanie Bastek.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes334Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Smarty Pants

Latest Episodes

Audley Moore mentored Malcolm X, popularized reparations for African Americans in a 1963 essay, and advanced the cause of Black women in both the Black nationalist and civil rights movements. She rubbed elbows with the Mandelas, Jessie Jackson, and R... more

In ancient Greece, the view from on high was known as catascopos, or “the looker-down.” It's a privileged perspective, and in the modern world, one increasingly taken by machines: drones, satellites, spy cameras, airplanes, sentient doorbells. In his... more

Stories of the undead tormenting the living supposedly entered the English-speaking world in 1732, with a report from the Hapsburg military of events in Serbia—events that would go on to inspire the most famous vampire of all, Dracula. But the count ... more

Foraging has been part of the human story forever, and its post-pandemic resurgence is a return to ways of living with the natural world that have only recently been forgotten. Gabrielle Cerberville, or the Chaotic Forager, as she’s known online, is ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Contact Information
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ashley D. Farmer
Associate professor in the Department of History and African and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.
University of Texas at Austin
Episode: The Midwife of Black Nationalism
Edward McPherson
Author of 'Look Out! The Delight and Danger of Taking the Long View'
Washington University in St. Louis
Episode: Ground Truths
John Blair
Emeritus professor of medieval history and archaeology
University of Oxford
Episode: The Dangerous Dead
Gabrielle Cerberville
Foraging educator, community mycologist, and climate advocate
Episode: For the Love of Foraging
Bench Ansfield
Assistant professor of history at Temple University and author of 'Born in Flames'
Temple University
Episode: Why the Bronx Burned
Eric McHenry
Poet and critic who teaches creative writing at Washburn University and is a former poet laureate of Kansas.
Washburn University
Episode: What Lies Beneath the Levee Camp Holler
Adam Aleksic
Linguist and content creator posting educational videos as the etymology nerd.
Episode: The Linguistics of Brain Rot
Jessa Crispin
Author of several books including Why I Am Not a Feminist, and a feminist manifesto
Episode: Michael Douglas Explains It All
Jonathan Gould
Author of 'Burning Down the House, Talking Heads, and the New York Scene that Transformed Rock'
Episode: Once in a Lifetime

Host

Stephanie Bastek
Host with a knack for engaging conversations about literature, arts, and cultural discussions, often exploring in-depth narrative themes.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 156 ratings
  • Unique topics of interest

    It’s the off the beaten path topics, not often seen elsewhere in the popular press, that most attract me to the show. The interviews are well done and the subjects fascinating.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Frances Perry
    United States3 years ago
  • Love this podcast!

    I can’t overstress how much I love this podcast! I always learn something new from it … and even when the topic of the day seems like something I may not be super interested in, the discussion always draws me in and enlightens me! LOVE.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Miela 82
    United States3 years ago
  • Pretty good

    Lively interviews with thoughtful people. The word “like” is used as a filler a lot which is distracting. This show deserves a listen

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    canteluevetyenicjnqme
    Canada3 years ago
  • Always Learn Something New

    This podcast has exposed me to a wealth of topics. It’s a nice treat to learn something completely new each time and learn about topics I have never been exposed to before.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    veccb
    United States5 years ago
  • Difficult to listen to.

    Can’t understand much of what the host is saying because of vocal fry. So distracting.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    cincysport
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the high-quality interviews and depth of discussion.
Unique and fascinating topics that are rarely covered elsewhere.
The variety of subjects encourages continual learning and engagement.
Some find the host's vocal style distracting, impacting their listening experience.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Dangerous Dead
Q: What's your hypothesis about why the undead are walking again today?
John Blair suggests that the idea of the undead captures human imagination due to our innate curiosity about death and what happens to the dead, providing excitement and a sense of power.
The Dangerous Dead
Q: What do you mean by 'Just Male Fantasies'?
John Blair explains how the Carmilla template reflects male fantasies yet also indicates danger, as men often meet unfortunate ends when involved with these supernatural women.
The Dangerous Dead
Q: Can you talk about the whole range of what kind of undead we're talking about?
John Blair shares that there are different types of undead, such as spirits and life forces, which are intertwined with cultural beliefs that can reflect social changes.
The Dangerous Dead
Q: Why did you want to write this book about the undead a couple thousand years after they first started appearing and we started killing them?
John Blair discusses his fascination with the historical parallel of vampire stories across different cultures and aims to tackle the topic from a historical and political perspective.
From Sofia to Chicago
Q: What was your relationship with him like after you left Bulgaria between then and his death?
Izidora shares that her relationship with her father became strained, particularly during his imprisonment, but the fear of losing him motivated her to visit him later, leading to a difficult awakening regarding their relationship.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Smarty Pants

What is Smarty Pants about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The podcast features engaging conversations with a variety of guests from fields such as literature, arts, sciences, and history, exploring cutting-edge ideas and contemporary narratives. Each episode typically includes interviews with authors, educators, and other prominent figures who share their insights on a range of topics, from cultural phenomena to personal stories and historical analysis. The compelling blend of story-telling and discussion makes it an intriguing resource for listeners interested in the evolving landscape of modern thought and creativity.

Notably, the podcast emphasizes a breadth of intellectual exploration, often tackling offbeat or lesser-known subjects. It appeals to a diverse audience by providing thought-provo... more

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How many listeners does Smarty Pants get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Smarty Pants?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Smarty Pants:

1. Throughline
2. Uncanny Valley | WIRED
3. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of Smarty Pants are there?

Smarty Pants launched 10 years ago and published 334 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 Smarty Pants?

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.

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What guests have appeared on Smarty Pants?

Recent guests on Smarty Pants include:

1. Ashley D. Farmer
2. Edward McPherson
3. John Blair
4. Gabrielle Cerberville
5. Bench Ansfield
6. Eric McHenry
7. Adam Aleksic
8. Jessa Crispin

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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