Shows / The Smart Cookies podcast
The Smart Cookies podcast
Deep-dive conversations with the world's leading minds. European host Zaza looks beyond the mainstream to explore history, technology, philosophy, psychology, and science.
Episodes
The Smart Cookies podcastThe Fascinating Story Of Our Mysterious Relatives, The Denisovans, With Prof. Bence Viola
In 2010, a shocking discovery reverberated throughout the scientific community - a bone fragment previously thought to have belonged to a Neanderthal turned…
The Smart Cookies podcastThe Era Of Climate Change Is Here - And This Is Our Only Way Out. With Prof. Bill McKibben
Bill McKibben is someone I've been wanting on the pod for ages - he's not only one of the most celebrated environmentalists alive, but is also widely credited…
The Smart Cookies podcastAsylums, Lobotomies and ECTs - The Horrifying History of Mental Illness “Cures.” With Prof. Andrew Scull
What do lunatic asylums, lobotomies and electroconvulsive therapy have in common? They were all desperate attempts to cure mental illness. Long before the…
The Smart Cookies podcastHitler Dismantled Democracy In Just 8 Weeks - Here's How... With Prof. Timothy Ryback
We always assume Hitler forced his way into the Chancellor's office and then single-handedly ended the Weimar Republic, ushering in his horrific dictatorship…
The Smart Cookies podcastOur Food Systems Are Unstable - It's About To Get Worse. With Prof. Tim Benton
We've all noticed that food prices keep going up without an end in sight. Couple that with the increasingly dramatic effects of climate change and a world…
The Smart Cookies podcast"AI Will Be The Last Mistake Humanity Ever Makes..." With Prof. David Krueger
2026 has been a groundbreaking year for AI development - frontier models from OpenAI, Anthropic and Google have not only reached frightening capability levels…
The Smart Cookies podcastStaying Healthy In The Age Of The Obesity Epidemic. With Dr. Stephan Guyenet
Most of us have probably wanted to lose some weight at some point or another, only to find out it's much easier said than done. And even if we actually managed…
The Smart Cookies podcastThe Future Is Chinese - Here's Why. With Prof. Steve Keen
It's no secret that the West is in terminal decline, while China continues to grow and is currently on the verge of overtaking the US as the biggest economy on…
The Smart Cookies podcastAre We Losing the Climate Change Fight? With Prof. Michael Mann
Michael Mann is a Presidential Distinguished Professor of Earth & Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Our Fragile Moment…
The Smart Cookies podcastWhy AI Won't Replace Workers, But Will Crash The Economy. With Cory Doctorow
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 Smart Cookies podcastWhat The Japanese Thought Of The First Westerners... And Vice Versa. With dr. Christopher Harding
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…
The Smart Cookies podcastWhat Were The Crusades Like From The Muslim Side? With Prof. Nicholas Morton
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…
The Smart Cookies podcastThe Wild Lives of Nigerian Romance Scammers | Carlos Barragan
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…
The Smart Cookies podcastWhy The Odyssey Is Actually About A Broken War Veteran | Prof. Peter Meineck
Christopher Nolan's retelling of Homer's famous epic is causing a lot of sassy drama these days, so I thought it'd be appropriate to have a chat with a Greek…
The Smart Cookies podcastAncient Roman Slavery: The Cruel Reality Behind The Empire | Dr. Emma Southon
When we discuss Rome, we usually talk about the Emperors, the Warlords and the Conquerors, rarely about ordinary Romans... and almost never about the people…
The Smart Cookies podcastThe German Peasants' War: The Bloody History Of Medieval Rebellion | Prof. Lyndal Roper
In 16th century Europe, few events were as momentous as the German Peasants’ War - an explosive rebellion that shocked the ruling houses of the Holy Roman…
The Smart Cookies podcastWeimar And The Terrifying Speed Of The Nazi Takeover Of Germany | Katja Hoyer
You're an ordinary German, living in 1920's Weimar when the Nazi party takes over - WHAT do you do? That's exactly the question that Katya Hoyer, "Britain's…
The Smart Cookies podcastWhy Did The Habsburg Empire Suddenly Collapse? | Pieter Judson
For at least 600 years, the lands of modern day Slovenia (where I'm from), belonged to the famous Habsburg dynasty. But how did this small aristocratic family…
The Smart Cookies podcastAncient Greece History: Debunking Myths On Race and Culture | Prof. Tony Spawforth
Ever since their civilisation ceased to exist, the Ancient Greeks have been appropriated to suit various agendas. But what did they actually think and believe?…
The Smart Cookies podcastNazi Human Experiments: The True History Of World War II Truth Serums | Norman Ohler
It's a real pleasure having Norman Ohler, author of Blitzed: Drugs in Nazi Germany, back on the pod. Norman recently published a spiritual succession of his…
The Smart Cookies podcastCryptocurrency And Masculinity: Why Some Men Risk Everything On Bitcoin | Dr. Dan Cassino
Despite it's mainstream presence for more than a decade, Bitcoin has yet to make a convincing argument about its use case. Nevertheless, the cryptocurrency…
The Smart Cookies podcastThe Psychology Of Past Life Memories: Near-Death Research Explained | Dr. Philipp Cozzolino
Dr. Philipp Cozzolino is a research Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neuro-behavioral Sciences at University of Virginia's Division of Perceptual Studies…
The Smart Cookies podcastHistorical Collapse Explained: Why Civilizations And Empires Fall | Luke Kemp
Luke Kemp, a research affiliate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk researched 324 cases of societies, usually empires (which he called Goliaths)…
The Smart Cookies podcastThe Renaissance Explained: History Of The Medici, Popes, And Florence | Prof. Kenneth Bartlett
I always wondered whether the Renaissance was a truly groundbreaking historical event - or has it become just a self-referential cliché? Talking to Prof…
The Smart Cookies podcastThe Death Of Subculture: Why Modern Pop Culture Sucks Now | David Marx
What do Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Mark Zuckerberg and Donald Trump have in common? As cultural critic W. David Marx argues in his new book Blank Space, they…
The Smart Cookies podcastGlobal Wealth Inequality: The True Flaws Of Modern Capitalism | Branko Milanović
The era of neoliberal globalisation that has dominated economies 90's and early 2000's is coming to an end. But what comes next? Renowned economist and…
The Smart Cookies podcastFrom SAMURAI to SHINKANSEN - the Rise, Fall and Stagnation of MODERN JAPAN, with Prof. Christopher Harding
As someone who moved to Japan not too long ago I was always fascinated with the country's unique history, particularly with the question of how did a country…
The Smart Cookies podcastThe alluring MYSTERIES of Göbekli Tepe - the OLDEST monumental site in the world, with Jens Notroff
The old version of the story went something like this - Homo Sapiens appeared in Africa around 2 to 300.00 years ago and for most of that time, we lived in…
The Smart Cookies podcastWe have stopped READING - is it a sign our civilisation is COLLAPSING? With James Marriott
In the past 2 decades literacy rates have dropped dramatically... and so have our IQ scores. Writer James Marriott believes these two facts are connected. His…
The Smart Cookies podcastHare Krishna, Russian Jesus and the End of the World - Cultural Chaos during the COLLAPSE of the Soviet Union, with Prof. Joseph Kellner
Joseph Kellner is a historian of Russia and the Soviet Union at the University of Georgia. He's also the author of the recently released book The Spirit of…
The Smart Cookies podcastJoe Rogan keeps claiming the EARTH is cooling down. I talk to an actual CLIMATE scientist to dispel the BS. With David Armstrong McKay
Podcaster Joe Rogan keeps claiming that climate change doesn't really exist and that the Earth is in fact, cooling down, negating all available climate science…
The Smart Cookies podcastWhy does the INTERNET suck so bad now? With Cory Doctorow
We all know it - the internet has become a huge garbage heap, guided by malignant algorithms and filled with useless apps, mind numbing social media and AI…
The Smart Cookies podcastGenocide in GAZA, the biggest crime of our time. With Mouin Rabbani
The horrific war that Israel is waging against the predominantly civilian population in Gaza has been going on for almost two years, and yet, the slaughter…
The Smart Cookies podcastThe notorious two OPIUM WARS that ushered in China's century of HUMILIATION. With Prof. Yang-Wen Zheng
Few conflicts have been as impactful as the two Opium Wars fought between China and the Western powers during the 19th century. These unjust wars, unanimously…
The Smart Cookies podcastIs the killing of CHARLIE KIRK another symptom of a disintegrating political SYSTEM? With Prof. Will Davies
Neoliberal capitalism is dead. But what kind of a system has replaced it? In the era of tech titans, weakening institutions and growing social tensions it's…
The Smart Cookies podcastThe one power that finally managed to BEAT BACK the ruthless MONGOL invasions. With Prof. Nicholas Morton | Pt. 2
It's the middle of the 13th century and the Mongols have bulldozed their way through a host of Middle Eastern kingdoms like they are playing a strategy game…
The Smart Cookies podcastYou're a MEDIEVAL King in the Middle East... and the MONGOLS have just showed up. With Nicholas Morton | Pt. 1
The Byzantine Empire, Anatolian Seljuks, The Ayyubid Empire, Kingdom of Armenia, The Crusader States, The Abbasid Caliphate, the Nizari Assassins... this isn't…
The Smart Cookies podcastThe West is CLUELESS about China. Here's why that's a MISTAKE. With Kaiser Kuo
In the mainstream media China still occupies the role of the main adversary of the West. It's usually portrayed negatively, as a belligerent country and a…
The Smart Cookies podcastIn politics and in the workplace, WHY do we keep electing BAD LEADERS? With Dr. Martin Gutmann
The omnipresent problem of bad leadership in politics and business seems to be more pressing than ever. So why do we keep choosing incompetent leaders? What…
The Smart Cookies podcastThe TOTALITARIANISM of Stalin, Hitler and... Trump? With Prof. Marci Shore
Marci Shore is a historian, chair in European Intellectual history, a professor at the Munk School of Global affairs, and the author of The Taste of Ashes: The…
The Smart Cookies podcastAI empires are here - what are they after? With Nick Srnicek
What are the motivations of artificial intelligence CEO's, people like Peter Thiel, Elon Musk and Sam Altman? What kind of ideologies are animating Silicon…
The Smart Cookies podcastThe MIND-BENDING science of BLACK HOLES, with Marcus Chown
Marcus Chown is an award-winning writer, broadcaster and former radio astronomer at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He's the author of The…
The Smart Cookies podcastWhy does Gen Z think we Millennials are CRINGE? With Dr. Carolina Are
In light of a scandalous recent Guardian article which explored why Zoomers think we Millennials are profoundly uncool, I desperately needed some answers. So I…
The Smart Cookies podcastDid the Great Crash of 1929 really propel HITLER into power? With Dr. Christopher Dillon
Dr. Christopher Dillon is Senior Lecturer in Modern German History at King’s College London who has authored many books and articles on the history of the…
The Smart Cookies podcastMassacres, the Children's Crusade and Kingdom of Heaven - History of CRUSADES with Prof. Nicholas Morton (Pt.II)
Welcome back to the second episode of the extraordinary history of the CRUSADES, with renowned historian Prof. Nicholas Morton from Nottingham Trent…
The Smart Cookies podcastGod Wills It: The HOLY WAR That Changed History forever | CRUSADES with Nicholas Morton, Pt. I
Nicholas Morton is an Associate Professor in Middle Eastern history at Nottingham Trent University in the UK, and has been teaching Medieval - Middle Eastern…
The Smart Cookies podcastWhat if REALITY is an elaborate COSMIC PLAY? A mind-bending conversation with James Glattfelder
Dr. James Glattfelder is a theoretical physicist turned complexity scientist, who's interested in the really big picture, questions such as the nature of…
The Smart Cookies podcastLuka Doncic and the most SHOCKING TRADE in the history of sports - with ESPN's Tim McMahon
Tim McMahon is a sports writer and journalist covering the NBA for ESPN. He is also the author of the book, Wonder Boy: Luka Doncic and the Curse of Greatness…
The Smart Cookies podcastHow a strain of rice changed the course of human history FOREVER | Sunil Amrith
Sunil Amrith is a professor of History at Yale University. He is the author of four books, and a recipient of multiple awards including a MacArthur “Genius”…
- The Smart Cookies podcast
Why are the YAKUZA going extinct? With Jake Adelstein, author of TOKYO VICE
Jake Adelstein was a reporter for the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s largest newspaper, from 1993 to 2005. He has also written for The Daily Beast/Newsweek, The…
The Smart Cookies podcastHow the FAR-RIGHT is destroying the West from within, with dr. Nafeez Ahmed
Dr. Nafeez Ahmed is a trans-disciplinary academic, investigative journalist and systems theorist, who's also the author of the best-selling book, “The Alt…
The Smart Cookies podcastAre we on the verge of LIVING FOREVER? With dr. Ariel Zeleznikow - Johnston
Dr. Ariel Zeleznikow - Johnston is a neuroscientist, and a Research Fellow at Monash University. He's also the author of the acclaimed book, The Future Loves…
The Smart Cookies podcastIf we come from different cultures, do we FEEL the same? With prof. Batja Mesquita
Batja Mesquita is a social psychologist, an affective scientist, and a pioneer of cultural psychology. She is a professor of psychology at the University of…
The Smart Cookies podcastWhat is a HANGOVER... and how do you treat one? With Dr. Sally Adams
The holiday season is here, which means we need to have a conversation about... ALCOHOL. And that's why I invited dr. Sally Adams, an alcohol researcher from…
The Smart Cookies podcastDoes the Universe Have a Purpose? With prof. Philip Goff
Phillip Goff is a professor of philosophy at Durham University and the author of extremely thought-provoking books, such as Consciousness and Fundamental…
The Smart Cookies podcastHow HITLER took power... and what's it got to do with DONALD TRUMP? With dr. Timothy Ryback
Timothy Ryback is the co-founder of the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation in the Hague. Some of His previous books include the highly…
The Smart Cookies podcastThe history of the OCCULT with dr. Justin Sledge from Esoterica
Dr. Justin Sledge is a professor of philosophy and religion whose work focuses on the Western Esoteric Tradition, particularly in religious and philosophical…
The Smart Cookies podcastGLADIATORS with Alexander Mariotti
As an undying fan of Ridley Scott's Gladiator, I've always wanted to learn the real history of these celebrated, yet mysterious figures - and now I finally…
The Smart Cookies podcastIs AI mostly hype? With dr. Emmanuel Maggiori
Dr. Emmanuel Maggiori is a software engineer, writer, and speaker, who's on a mission to help develop a more balanced view about the tech and AI industries in…
The Smart Cookies podcastProf. NORMAN FINKELSTEIN on Zionism, Israeli society, Gaza, Genocide, Kamala Harris and his debate with Destiny
Professor Norman Finkelstein is a political scientist whose primary fields of research are the politics of the Holocaust and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict…