Roqe

A new episode of Roqe focused on one of the Iran’s greatest cultural exports in recent decades: Cinema. The Roundtable convenes to discuss the recent movement to have state-sponsored or IRI endorsed films boycotted or omitted from prominent Western film festivals. Jian is joined by Pegah, Raha, and longtime TV producer and screenwriter Mostafa Azizi in the Roqe Studio to debate the question: Are boycotts of Iranian cinema valid? Plus a feature interview in the studio with prolific Iranian film producer, director, and former football player and presenter, Jahangir Kosari, who joins Jian to chat about his life, his work, and his latest film, “I Am Forough,” about renowned poet and filmmaker Forough Farrokhzad, and featuring his daughter, Baran, in the lead role.

A new episode of Roqe featuring an animated Roundtable discussion about Iranians and sentiments towards Islam based on the regime in Iran. Jian is joined in the Roqe Studio by Pegah, Raha and Bahador, to tackle the heated question: “Is Iranian Islamophobia (sometimes) justified?” Plus a feature interview with Iranian icon of law and history, Mehrangiz Kar. The prominent attorney, author, activist and professor dedicated to advancing democracy and human rights, returns to the Roqe Studio for a wide-ranging discussion about revolution, leadership and women’s rights.

A new episode (#300!) of Roqe featuring acclaimed environmentalist, academic and Director of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, Kaveh Madani, in the Roqe Studio as a major Climate Conference kicks off in Dubai. Kaveh joins Jian for a wide-ranging and eye-opening discussion both about the intensity of the environmental crisis around the world and the dire situation in Iran. In Part One of the episode the Roqe Roundtable convenes with Pegah, Raha and special guest, YouTuber and engineer, Bahador Alast, to address “activist fatigue,” the lack of outcry at the ongoing executions in Iran, and where Iranians should turn for credible media. Plus Jian gives an update on the ongoing weaponization of ghormeh sabzi and his car.

A new episode focused on the debate around artificial intelligence featuring Iranian-American tech entrepreneur and social media star, Kooshiar Azimian, on the question, “Should We Fear AI?” Kooshiar joins Jian from San Francisco to discuss all the implications of this adaptive technology, including whether it is the most exciting new development for humanity that will advance the world…OR…the beginning of some kind of technological apocalypse. The result is a widespread and fascinating conversation of ideas. Plus, Pegah joins for the Roqe Roundup about a new article on Narges Mohammadi penned by Angelina Jolie, and an irrational speech given by Raisi. All of this while Jian battles an allergic reaction to Pegah’s perfume (beware of Chanel!).

A new edition of the Roqe Roundtable with Pegah and Raha joining Jian in the Roqe Studio, and journalist Nikahang Kowsar joining from Washington DC. Topics for this week include: (1) Whether Ayatollah Khamenei should be suspended from X (formerly Twitter); (2) The release of Toomaj Salehi and what it says about the state of the uprising in Iran; (3) Iranian’s use and proclivity towards Instagram filters; and (4) Reza Pahlavi’s recent major interview and ideological positioning. Plus, Jian shares a story about his day old coffee and how the universe intervened to tell him to stop microwaving his caffeine fixes.

A new edition of Roqe featuring interviews with human rights lawyer and New Zealand MP Golriz Ghahraman joining Jian from Wellington, and Iranian-Canadian multi-instrumentalist and recording artist, Sina Bathaie, performing in the Roqe Studio. Golriz, the first-ever refugee to be elected to parliament in New Zealand, discusses growing up in Iran, her personal story told in her latest book about identity, her rise to political office, and the current situation in the Middle East. Sina joins Jian in the studio on the release day of his latest track, “Tehran,” for an interview about growing up in a musical family in Yazd, taking his music career full-time now, and creating a fusion of modern and traditional sounds in his electronic grooves…and he performs a brand new improvisational composition in the Roqe Studio. Plus Pegah and Jian remember little Kian Pirfalak, and debate the musical preferences of Persians in their cars...

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A new edition of the Monday Roundtable with Pegah and Raha joining Jian in the Roqe Studio to weigh in on: (1) a new outrageous edict by Iran’s Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution to rename celebratory Persian days such as Yalda and Chaharshanbe Suri; (2) the latest way the IR has found to impose gender segregation in schools; (3) a look at how Iranians are caught in the crossfire of global protests these days; and (4) explanations for Manoto TV’s new memo about the possibility of closing down. Plus, Jian provides more details on the great “ghormeh sabzi disaster” of last week.

A new special episode of Roqe (295!) focusing on all things tea-related and the Iranian obsession with the aromatic hot beverage. Jian is joined by popular Persian broadcaster, producer, and self-proclaimed “tea master” Behzad Bolour for an entertaining feature 90 mins about the history, politics, economics, particularities and cultural rituals of Iranians and tea. Plus we read letters and comments from the audience about the appropriateness of herbal tea at an Iranian mehmooni(!), and journalist Mahsa Mortazavi joins Jian and Pegah for the Roqe Roundup to discuss tea, Reza Pahlavi’s recent interview with Piers Morgan, and the latest hijab crackdowns in Iran.

A new edition of the Monday Roundtable with Pegah and Raha joining Jian in the Roqe Studio to weigh in on the unwritten rules involved in the Iranian obsession with tea, the complexities of Iranian reactions to the growth and demonstrations of Islamists in the West, the latest on a new hunger strike by Narges Mohammadi in prison in Iran, and Jian’s traumatizing encounter with a leaking ghormeh sabzi container in his car.

A new episode of Roqe (293!) featuring an in-depth conversation with Iranian-American human rights expert and Executive Director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran, Hadi Ghaemi, who joins Jian from New York to discuss the current state of the IR, the regression or lack of progression in the uprising of the last year, and the most recent crackdowns by the IR at the funeral of Armita Geravand. Plus, to kick off the show, Pegah joins Jian for the Roqe Roundup in which they reflect on a brand new Beatles song, the perils of being stingy with Halloween candy, the premature start of Xmas season (in November!), and the laughable appointment of Iran as the chair of the UN Human Rights Council Social Forum.