This is Part 1 of 3 of the Venezuela 101 series: a foundational history of Venezuela. This episode is a concise, foundational history of Venezuela from 1498 to 1988, designed for those who know little to nothing about Venezuela. This episode covers:

- Venezuela pre-1498 (Columbus)

- Spanish colonization

- How Venezuela gained independence

- The long road to democracy: caudillos, dictatorships, and more

- The discovery of oil and the oil boom years

- Oil crash and inflation of the 1980s

If you'd like a downloadable PDF with a timeline/outline of this episode, go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can pay for it a la carte, or sign up to be a $5 or $10 Patreon supporter and receive the PDF, more resources, and ad-free episodes for all Wiser World episodes.

Sources used in the making of this episode.

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This is a Cultural Preface to the Venezuela 101 history series. It is not designed to be entirely comprehensive, as no culture or people are all the same. But, it is designed to help listeners meet the people before they study their history, and in it, we cover:

1. Population, Identity & Diversity

2. Social Personality & National Character

3. Family & Social Structure

4. Gender Roles & Expectations

5. Language, Accents & Slang

6. Food as Cultural Identity

7. Music, Dance & Artistic Expression

8. Beauty, Spirituality & Belief

9. Race, Class & Urban Life

10. Humor, Survival & Street Smarts

11. Friendliness & Foreigners

12. Daily Life & Leisure

13. Marriage, Names & Social Bonds

If you'd like to learn more, please head to ⁠⁠Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast⁠⁠, where you can support the podcast and learn more along the way!

The main source of information for this episode was this book, as well as Venezuelan friends.

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In this episode of the Common Ground series, we're diving into unique rituals from around the world that honor both birth and death, which is something we all share.

We cover:

    •    Navajo First Laugh Ceremony – United States (American Southwest, Navajo Nation)

    •    Baek-il (100-day celebration) – South Korea

    •    Selapan Ceremony (35th day) – Indonesia (Javanese culture)

    •    Jatakarma (Samskara birth ritual) – India (Hindu communities)

    •    Newborn Singing Traditions – West Africa (e.g., Yoruba, Akan, Ewe, Fulani, etc.)

    •    Oríkì (praise poetry for babies) – Nigeria (Yoruba culture)

    •    Aqiqah (naming and sacrifice ceremony) – Islamic tradition

    •    Whenua (placenta burial) – New Zealand (Māori culture)

    •    Miyamairi (shrine visit) – Japan (Shinto tradition)

    •    Traditional Christian European Funerals — Europe

    •    Ghanaian Fantasy Coffins & Celebratory Funerals – Ghana (Ga culture, especially near Accra)

    •    Torajan “Death Feasts” & Body Preservation – Indonesia (Sulawesi, Toraja people)

    •    Pacific Islander Vigil & Communal Mourning – Various Pacific Islands

    •    Jewish Shiva & Chevra Kadisha with Tahara – Jewish communities globally

    •    Japanese Family Body Preparation – Japan

    •    Hindu Cremation (especially along the Ganges) – India

    •    Sky Burial & Miniature Yurt Graves – Mongolia & Himalayan Buddhist regions

    •    Obon Festival & Lantern Floating (Tōrō Nagashi) – Japan

    •    Famadihana (“Turning of the Bones”) – Madagascar

    •    Islamic Burial & 3-Day Mourning Visits – Many Muslim-majority countries (especially Arab nations)

    •    Chehelom (40th Day Mourning Ceremony) – Iran (blend of Islamic and Persian traditions)

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This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

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Today we’re stepping into a story that blends together the last few month’s topics (Syria, Food, Hospitality) with my guest, Yassin Terou.

Yassin Terou is a Syrian-born entrepreneur and American dream enthusiast, best known as the founder of Yassin’s Falafel House, a Knoxville-based restaurant celebrated for its welcoming spirit and message of inclusion. After arriving in the United States, Yassin built his business from humble beginnings into one of the most beloved restaurants in Tennessee. His restaurant was named “The Nicest Place in America” by Reader’s Digest and Good Morning America for its commitment to kindness and community. Yassin is passionate about using food to bring people together and create understanding across cultures. This passion also inspired him to start a nonprofit organization called Seeds and Bridges, which supports people in need and helps new entrepreneurs pursue their dreams—regardless of race, color, or beliefs. Through both his business and public speaking, Yassin continues to spread hope, compassion, and unity.

In our conversation, Yassin shares his journey out of Syria, and his process of starting over in a new country. We talk about immigrant challenges, food, advice he has for all people, and what he wishes more people understood about Syria and Syrians. It’s a story of courage, community, and the quiet power of hospitality. 

Support Yassin's nonprofit: Seeds and Bridges.

This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

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Food may be the universal need, but hospitality is the universale virtue.

In the second episode of the Common Ground series, we're diving into how different cultures practice hospitality, and how there's much more in common than you might think.

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This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

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No matter where you go in the world, everyone needs to eat, and preferably eat together. Eating together is one of our oldest human instincts.

In this first episode of the Common Ground series, we're diving into concepts of food and drink that are cultural universals—things we all share. We talk about grains, fermentation, earth cooking, hot drinks, and more!

Sign up for my free weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

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This is a personal analysis of takeaways I gained from studying Syria. It is meant to be listened to after completing the Syria 101 series (which is 5 parts).

Nonprofits mentioned in this episode:

SAMS

Karam Foundation

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I quote Wendy Pearlman from "⁠⁠The Home I Worked to Make⁠⁠" and Alia Malek from "⁠⁠The Home that was Our Country⁠⁠" in this episode.

This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

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This is Part 5 of 5 of the Syria 101 series: a foundational history of Syria. This episode is a concise, foundational history of Syria from 2012 to 2025, designed for those who know little to nothing about Syria's history, to set the stage for modern Syria. This episode covers:

If you'd like a downloadable PDF with a timeline/outline of this episode, go to ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast⁠⁠⁠. You can pay for it a la carte, or sign up to be a $5 or $10 Patreon supporter and receive the PDF, more resources, and ad-free episodes for all Wiser World episodes.

This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Sources used in the making of this episode.

Transcript for this episode.

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This is Part 4 of 5 of the Syria 101 series: a foundational history of Syria. This episode is a concise, foundational history of Syria from 2000 to 2012, designed for those who know little to nothing about Syria's history, to set the stage for modern Syria. This episode covers:

If you'd like a downloadable PDF with a timeline/outline of this episode, go to ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast⁠⁠⁠. You can pay for it a la carte, or sign up to be a $5 or $10 Patreon supporter and receive the PDF, more resources, and ad-free episodes for all Wiser World episodes.

This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Sources used in making this episode.

Transcript of this episode.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website (sign up for email newsletter): ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠

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This is Part 3 of 5 of the Syria 101 series: a foundational history of Syria. This episode is a concise, foundational history of Syria from 1946 to 2000, designed for those who know little to nothing about Syria's history, to set the stage for modern Syria. This episode covers:

If you'd like a downloadable PDF with a timeline/outline of this episode, go to ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/wiserworldpodcast⁠⁠⁠. You can pay for it a la carte, or sign up to be a $5 or $10 Patreon supporter and receive the PDF, more resources, and ad-free episodes for all Wiser World episodes.

This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to learn about other fantastic history and education-centric shows that are created for curious, thoughtful people. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast.

Sources used in the making of this episode.

Transcript for this episode.

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/wiserworldpodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website (sign up for email newsletter): ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wiserworld.com/⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices