Roqe

Roqe Live 3 - FULL SHOW AUDIO - recorded live at City Playhouse Theatre in Thornhill, Ontario, Canada - Sept 27th, 2024. Featuring Jian Ghomeshi, Pegah Ganji, Nooshafarin, Anousha, Solmaz Barghir. Performances by Arian and Sara, Golrokh Aminian, Nooshafarin and Ghazal Akhoondzadeh. And a special presentation of the Roqe Media Icon Award to legendary Shahbal Shabpareh with special guest, Babak Amini.

A brand new edition of Roqe featuring a rare interview with popular Iranian-German DJ and music producer, Namito. Namito joins Jian in the new Roqe Studio for a comprehensive chat about everything from the evolving status of DJs (from anonymous record-spinners to the new global rock stars) to his remarkable story of fleeing Iran by himself at the age of 13 and joining a commune in Germany. Also, Pegah is in studio at the top of the episode and Jian makes an impassioned case against allowing Pezeshkian and the IRI to “normalize” their image on a trip to New York and the UN.

Note: the entire episodes of Roqe are now on video as well as audio at our YouTube channel!

A new season of Roqe kicks off with Episode 338 in our brand new studio. Iranian-American actor and producer Armin Amiri joins Jian live in the studio, for a chat about everything from his time as a refugee to the delicate dance of nude scenes in the Sex in the City sequel. Then co-founders of Divan Events, popular Iranian-Canadian fashion blogger Bahar Eslami and successful event planner Mona Hassanzadeh also arrive in the new Roqe space for an interview. Plus, Pegah joins Jian for the first Roqe Roundup of the season for a discussion about emotions around the second anniversary of the killing of Mahsa Amini, and what to make of Trump vs Harris and immigrants eating pets.

A summer repeat edition of one of our favourite episodes of Roqe as we prepare to launch our new season. In the early 20th Century, in the midst of widespread discontent with the corruption and inefficacy of the Qajar Dynasty, a powerful movement formed and mobilized in Iran, aimed at changing the structure of the monarchy from despotic to constitutional, and to adopt representative governance by introducing the country to a parliamentary system. The Constitutional Revolution is considered a major turning point in the formation of modern Iran. Dr. Ali Massoud Ansari, a Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St. Andrews, joins Jian from Fife, Scotland, to discuss what gave rise to the constitutionalists, the turbulent five year period in which the Constitution was established, and the unmet revolutionary goals of liberal secularism, parliamentary democracy, the containment of clerical dominance, and the limiting of the power of the monarchy, in the aftermath of the 1906 Revolution and the century that followed. Plus Pegah and Jian talk about Roqe Live 3, the launch of a new season of Roqe coming soon…and Jian’s time in England sleeping on a very small couch.

A summer repeat edition of one of our favourite episodes of Roqe as we prepare to launch our new season. What was Persian music before the 20th Century? How do we assess the development of sound and musical traditions in Iran during the Safavid and Qajar eras - important influences that may be heard all the way to today? American musician and ethnomusicologist, Dr. Margaret Caton, author of the book, “A Persian Ode: Musical Life in Safavid and Qajar Iran,” joins Jian from Los Angeles for a fascinating, entertaining, and non-traditional journey through the sounds and music of Persia in the periods leading to modern Iran, examined within a broader socio-economic, cultural and political context. - This was originally posted as part of the Contemporary History of Iran series from Roqe Media.

On this episode we once again explore the Persian preoccupation with cars and status with a fun-driving edition. Jian is joined by two very popular experts in the field of cars and Iranians - Vahid Amirimoghaddam of the "Cars I Have Driven" channel (Montreal), and Ali Bekhradi of the "Garage Bekhradi" YouTube/Instagram site (Houston) - to discuss all things auto obsession, from a Mercedes fixation to the vehicular expectations of a nation. Plus Jian announces the lineup and ticket information for Roqe Live 3(!) and about early bird discounts for those listening to the show.

With Iran back in the news again for a multitude of negative reasons, we pivot to a special edition focused entirely on pre-Islamic Republic Iranian history and, particularly, arts and culture and the role of Farah Diba, the last Empress of Iran, and the significant role she played in the cultural renaissance of the 1960s and 70s that resonates to the present day. Jian is joined by Dr. Layla Diba, an Iranian-American independent scholar, art advisor and curator, who was the first woman museum director in Iran, for a very intimate, detailed and first-hand look at the role that Queen Farah played in fostering a vibrant cultural scene in Iran.

A new edition of Roqe (Ep.333) including two feature guests, a very big announcement, and, of course, the Roundup. Iranian-American fitness, nutrition, and wellness guru Sama Ghorbani joins Jian from Los Angeles to talk about her experience in the fitness space, the perils of cardio, questions about Ozempic, and her very popular Instagram account and app, Nutrifitopia. Later, Persian miniature painting master, Alijan Alijanpour, talks about the harrowing and heartbreaking recent story of theft of his paintings, which he values at $2 million. Plus, Pegah joins Jian to make a BIG Roqe announcement, and to discuss Tehran turmoil amidst the assassination of a Hamas leader and the impending imprisonment of popular musical artist Shervin Hajipour.

A new edition of Roqe (Ep.332) featuring Iranian-American software engineer, viral video star and stand-up comedian Arash Rowshan in the Roqe Studio. Arash sits down with Jian for an all-encompassing and laughter filled conversation about his journey from engineer to stand-up comic, the ever changing nature of the Iranian diaspora, and the current state of American politics. But first, Smart Pegah and Super P join Jian for a conversation about everything from politics to coffee to a gruesome gash in Jian’s hand and the story behind it. Plus, Pegah and Jian convene for the Roundup and discuss the latest in whether or not Biden’s exit will affect US foreign policy on Iran.

A new edition of Roqe featuring high-profile Iranian activist Elahe Tavakolian, who became an international figure after suffering a horrific injury during the Woman Life Freedom uprising. Elahe joins Jian from Philadelphia to discuss her harrowing story, the journey it has taken her on, her unwavering efforts to raise awareness about human rights violations in Iran, and the implications of the recent election of President Pezeshkian in Iran. Plus, after a number of audience comments inspired by last week's episode, Jian and Pegah explore the question: “Are Iranians Too Critical of Iranians?”