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Today we are rereleasing our episode on Persepolis to commemorate the life of Marjane Satrapi, the acclaimed Iranian-French writer, artist, filmmaker, and human rights advocate whose work transformed personal memory into a powerful act of witness. Satrapi died on June 4, 2026, at the age of 56, leaving behind a body of work that helped readers around the world better understand Iran, exile, identity, and the enduring importance of freedom.

Born in Iran in 1969, Satrapi rose to international prominence with Persepolis, her groundbreaking graphic memoir about growing up during the Iranian Revolution and its aftermath. Told through stark black-and-white illustrations and an unforgettable narrative voice, Persepolis brought history to life through the eyes of a child and later a young woman navigating political upheaval, cultural displacement, and the search for self. The book became a global bestseller and was later adapted into an award-winning animated film that Satrapi co-directed.

Throughout her career, Satrapi remained a fearless advocate for artistic expression, women's rights, and democratic values. "The real issue for me is human rights, it's the freedom of expression," Satrapi said in an interview. Satrapi's final book, Woman, Life, Freedom (2024) continued her life's work of amplifying issues and voices others wished to silence. Her family attributed her death to sadness over the loss of her husband a year prior.