Armenian Enough

The task of discovering our individual identity is made that much more challenging when our very foundation is built upon shifting sands. Yasmin was raised by a Christian-Armenian mother and Muslim-Syrian father who emigrated to the United States when Yasmin was a child. In the midst of the push & pull of competing cultures, religious beliefs, and societal expectations, they were able to forge an identity uniquely theirs. Yasmin's confidence is as compelling as her vulnerability is disarming - truly, a model for us all.

You can reach Yasmin on their website www.yasminalmo.com

IG @yassayassayassa

One of the most meaningful things we can do with our one precious life on Earth is to leave this world better than we found it. Bravery born of love & compassion is the fuel that powers revolutions. In this case, a food & lifestyle innovation that enriches humans and animals alike, for the good of both. VegCheese is an artisanal plant-based cheese company founded by Lori Sroujian and run by her entire family, showcasing healthy vegan foods which sacrifice neither taste nor culinary pleasure.

Find out more about VegCheese at VegCheese.com

Follow VegCheese on IG @VegCheese

Do the people currently living on ancestral Armenian lands give any thought to the indigenous people of that land? Do they know they're living on Armenian soil, where countless generations of our people lived and loved and perished? How much thought do we give to the indigenous people of the land we call home today? Kya's Aboriginal roots provide a rich framework within which to explore their recently discovered Armenian DNA. Kya's curiosity of and reverence for history and tradition inspires us all to pause and ponder our own unique cultural legacy.

You can reach Kya on FB @kyabranch

Serving up truth with humor is an insidious and brilliant way to make oneself understood on the most intimate level. Humor is a balm to our weary souls. I, for one, wouldn't want to live in a world without it. By the same token, it takes a heady mix of genuine confidence and vulnerability to be able to laugh at oneself in earnest. Mary Basmadjian, on her own and through her iconic characters, is skilled at bringing audiences into her world and through that lens, allowing us all to gain a fresh perspective of both our culture and our place in it.

If you haven't seen her perform live, find out where she will be performing next and go!

www.MaryBasmadjianComedy.com

IG @marybasmadjian / FB @marybasmadjian / Twitter @marybasmadjian / TikTok @marybasmadjian

This episode provides a behind-the-curtains view of my most cherished relationship, the one with my only child. Hear her speak candidly about her life, her mother, and her internal sense of not feeling Armenian enough. (That last one kind of broke my heart a little.) With vulnerability and an abundance of compassion each of us can model what belonging and enough-ness really looks like in our own lives so that everyone understands on the deepest level that they, too, are a part of our tribe.

Samantha's YouTube channels include Sammy's Dream World and Chillin' With Samantha

Our greatest freedom lies in the full acceptance of who we genuinely are, even if the world at large fails to understand or endorse our unique individuality. From that vantage point, so much is revealed about the veneer of society's rules and trappings. With humor, bluster, and at times, great vulnerability, Paul speaks about their undying love for all things Armenian, the beauty in making peace with death and the path to a unified future.

You can reach Paul on IG @deadskull and @deadskullcurio

What is it like to be Jewish and Armenian? Aside from inheriting intergenerational trauma from both sides, it is also something that has provided Alyssa with a unique view of both communities. More of a New Yorker than an "American," Alyssa explores how her upbringing has provided her access to two distinct and oftentimes insular worlds, as well as how her family's history has shown her that it can be even more advantageous to be a citizen of the world.

You can reach Alyssa on Twitter @AlyssaZakaryan

Or on LinkedIn

And you can watch her YouTube channel Social Work Tarotist

Representation matters. It allows us a glimpse into the world of possibilities and rescues us from societal erasure. It's difficult to put into words how it felt to see actors on the big screen either speaking Armenian or telling the story of our ancestors who survived the Genocide... never did it cross my mind that the queer Armenian experience would also make it to the silver screen one day.

Filmmaker Natalie Shirinian tells the story of her own coming out to her Armenian mother, in her new short film Parev Mama.

You can buy tickets to watch Parev Mama online here: https://www.goelevent.com/InsideOut/e/ShortsLongStoryShort

You can reach Natalie on IG @natalie_shirinian

Read her food blog Femme On Feast

Connect to her production company NES Films

The old adage of laughter being the best medicine still holds true - laughter strengthens the immune system and boosts feel-good chemicals in our brain. Good comedy is funny because it's true... or at least, there's a healthy dose of truth in it. Through his comedy, Andy gently pokes fun at Armenian (and other) stereotypes and provides poignant social commentary. Watch it with a friend!

You can reach Andy on IG @andykenareki

His linktree there provides links to his YouTube channel AndyKComedy and his brand new Cudee Pie merch!

The passion required for sustained activism is one that is born neither of blood nor soil, but a deep inner conviction in one's soul that each of us is ultimately responsible for bringing about justice in the world. The source of righteous anger is love. It has always been love.

Hear Aram talk about his quintessentially American upbringing, the pull toward his Armenian roots, and the evolution of his activism.

You can reach Aram on IG @aram_bowen

Links to organizations discussed in this episode include: IG @armenianunityproject and @agbu_ypgny as well as www.coaf.org