Assyrian Podcast

Episode 207 - Dilan Adamat - In this enlightening episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Dilan Adamat, the founder of The Return—a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting returnees to Assyria. 

Dilan shares the inspiring story behind The Return and its mission to preserve the ancestral heritage of Assyrians. We delve into the challenges faced by returnees—whether they're second- or third-generation young people reconnecting with their roots, families recently displaced, investors, or retirees seeking peace in their homeland. The Return offers personalized support ranging from language courses and professional networking to providing a home base for stays, making the complex journey of returning home a tangible reality.

Website: https://the-return.co/

Instagram: The Return 

LinkedIn: The Return

Episode 206 - Paul Elia: Is an standup comedian from Detroit, Michigan. Among the few Chaldean-Assyrians in Hollywood, the Iraqi-American artist has appeared in dozens of films and television shows including Ramy, Lady Dynamite and is perhaps best known for his recurring roles on TBS’s Conan, appearing in over a dozen sketches. With fellow comedian and collaborator Matt Rife, the duo created LowKey Comedy Show which is considered one of the top independent comedy shows today. In addition to LCS, Paul is producing Matt’s next Netflix comedy special Natural Selection while Matt is executive producing Paul’s comedy special debut Detroit Player. He has multiple viral clips and has over 60M+ views across all social media which include his stand up, sketches, and crowd work clips.

Episode 205 – Baneta, Romta and Dilan are young adults living in the homeland of Northern Iraq. They combine their various backgrounds and experiences to share with you some honest and raw insights on what it’s like to be an Assyrian living in the homeland. They dive into questions of cultural identity and heritage, the challenges faced and opportunities available for Assyrians in the homeland, their connection to the diaspora, and their aspirations for the future. They candidly describe the fatigue often felt by Assyrians in the homeland, as well as the difficult question of whether to stay or to leave.

Episode Description 204 - Dr. Sandra Solaiman was born in Abadan, Iran, and earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Urmieh in the early 70’s. She immigrated to the United States on a student visa to continue her education at UC Davis. Various life circumstances led her to the midwest then the South where she earned her PhD from University of Missouri in Animal Sciences, with a focus on goats and goat nutrition. She has received many prestigious awards throughout her career and served as an important figure in the world of goat sciences. Her textbook has been translated into many languages. In this episode, we talk about the importance of education in her life, her upbringing, and her role as a mother.

Episode 203 - Mark Michael guided DevHub.com through venture-backed Series A, A1, and completed the acquisition of Brickwork Software, adding Nike, Chanel, and David Yurman among leading Fortune 1000 companies powered through DevHub’s OEM and VAR channels. He continues to lead DevHub as CEO.

Through his role as the CEO of DevHub, Mark works with multi-location brands of all sizes - from emerging brands to established franchises and portfolio brands, to help them own their digital presence. 📱 DevHub's location-based approach allows brands to easily manage and scale their platform through the core of their digital marketing strategy - their website. From corporate sites to local pages, landing pages, microsites, franchise development sites, and more, Mark and the DevHub team have partnered with 75+ technologies so that DevHub customers can integrate with their chosen providers seamlessly, scale freely, and drive growth like never before. 🚀

Join us as we dive into Mark's journey, exploring his digital leadership and the influence of his Assyrian heritage.

https://www.devhub.com/ 

https://www.markmichael.org/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/devhub-com 

Episode 202 - Emil Brikha - a former DJ, music producer, and spoken word artist turned dad. But not just any kind of dad, a stay-at-home Dad. Emil was born in Iran to Assyrian parents and raised in Sweden. He met the love of his life while living and working in Malta. 

As a self-described “odd man out” Emil talks to us about the intuitive decision within his marriage to be primary caregiver and society’s response to it. We learn about his views on fatherhood, the importance of connecting with our children, and the surprising bit of parenthood that involves re-connecting with ourselves.

Emil documented a lot of his early fatherhood journey as Fatherologist with a YouTube presence showing a playful and involved view of parenthood. He is the proud father of 9 year-old Ean and 5 year-old Allegra and lives in Malaga, Spain with his family. 

Episode 201 - Meet Lisa Mirza Grotts, “The Golden Rules Gal,” a renowned etiquette expert, author, and public speaker. She has 25 years of experience in helping individuals navigate social situations to present themselves with confidence and poise. Lisa has gained recognition for her expertise in traditional and modern manners. She dispenses pearls of wisdom to provide guidance with civility, consideration and compassion on various aspects of etiquette such as table manners, communication skills, and professional decorum.

In this episode, we explore Lisa's upbringing as an Assyrian and how the values instilled in her from a young age have been the compass to her life. We also delve into her journey toward becoming an etiquette expert and share some practical do's and don'ts for social events, ranging from weddings to housewarmings.

www.lisagrotts.com

Episode 200 - Paul Elia

IG & Tik Tok: @pauleliacomedy

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Pauleliacomedy 

Is an LA-based standup comedian from Detroit, Michigan. Among the few Chaldean-Assyrians in Hollywood, the Iraqi-American artist has appeared in dozens of films and television shows including Ramy, Lady Dynamite and is perhaps best known for his recurring roles on TBS’s Conan, appearing in over a dozen sketches. With fellow comedian and collaborator Matt Rife, the duo created LowKey Comedy Show which is considered one of the top independent comedy shows today. In addition to LCS, Paul is producing Matt’s next Netflix comedy special Natural Selection while Matt is executive producing Paul’s comedy special debut Detroit Player. He has multiple viral clips and has over 60M+ views across all social media which include his stand up, sketches, and crowd work clips.

Episode 199 - Paul Gabriel, Kristin Mar-Elia, Anthony Narsi, and Arbella Maisom have all had to experience the loss of a parent, one has lost both. In this episode, we discuss coping with the loss of a parent, and how difficult it can be. There’s no “normal” path or timeline to navigate one's life after losing their mother or father.  Everyone deals with it in their own way. But taking steps to understand your emotions and find support can make the process a little easier. 

We are re-releasing Episode 191 in honor of Obelit “Obie” Yadgar who passed away on August 30th 2023. We are so thankful we had the opportunity to get to know Obie before he passed away. There was great strength and inspiration felt in every word that he spoke to us. Obie's legacy and impact on the world are profound. His radiant spirit, indomitable will, and the melodies of his voice continue to reverberate in the hearts of many. We deeply feel his absence, and he remains a beacon of inspiration and love in our memories. 

Born in Baghdad and nurtured in Tehran, Obie made his journey to the U.S. in 1957, laying roots as a remarkable Assyrian-American radio voice in Glendale, Wisconsin. He etched his mark as a combat correspondent for the US Army's 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam between 1967-68. This episode invites listeners into Obie's poignant tales from Vietnam, his undying passion for music and radio, and the deeply personal stories of losing his cherished mother and wife. Additionally, we explore his distinctive views on the art of shaving.