Stay ConnectedIt’s a curiosity party, and you’re invited. Every Tuesday on SGDQ, Nayeema Raza asks simple Qs about big ideas trying to make sense of life. Some of our faves? Neil deGrasse Tyson on how we’d know if we’re in a simulation, Esther Perel on why love gets harder with age, Diplo on why every guy I date is a DJ, and two 11 year olds on what it’s like to grow up right now.
Send us your dumb (and smart) Qs: nayeema.raza101@gmail.com
Why 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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The 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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What 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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Would 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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How 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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Is 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:
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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What 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 onIG 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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Will 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 onIG 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 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 onIG or X too.
Finally: send YOUR dumb questions to nayeemaraza101@gmail.com. You might end up in a future episode!
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With 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 onIG or X too.
Finally: send YOUR dumb questions to nayeemaraza101@gmail.com. You might end up in a future episode!
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