Roqe

A new season of Roqe launches next week (“The Uprising: One Year Later”), but in the meantime, we have a new edition - a season preview! Jian is joined by Pegah and journalist Mahsa Mortazavi in the Roqe Studio to preview next week’s star-studded launch, to look back at events of the summer, recap Jian’s trips to far off destinations, gawk at Pegah’s CN Tower climb, and to have a Roqe Roundup with Mahsa focusing on activities inside Iran and across the Diaspora in recent weeks including “hostage diplomacy” and a new “September Deal” between the United States and the IRI.

The final instalment of our Best of Roqe series for the summer of 2023, featuring an interview with the late Iranian-American star scientist, Dr. Firouz Naderi, who died in June of this year - creating a deep void and profound sadness across the Diaspora. He was the kid from Shiraz who ascended to the heights of the most American of institutions. Firouz Naderi was well known for his rise to the top-levels of NASA and his brilliant work in bringing humanity closer to Mars. But Dr Naderi was also increasingly speaking out about the world, politics, and policy in the United States and in Iran… and feeling the sting of those who disagreed with him as a consequence. Today, we replay a very special interview with Dr. Firouz Naderi - who joined Jian from Los Angeles for this conversation - about space, belonging and putting oneself out there with opinions and politics. He was candid, charming, elegant and eloquent in this interview. He will be missed.

Another edition of the Best of Roqe featuring one of our favourite guests, replaying a conversation from his first appearance on the program. Dr. Fathali Moghaddam is an Iranian-British psychologist, author, professor of psychology, and director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Cognitive Science at Georgetown University. Fresh off his start appearance in the Netflix series, “How to be a Tyrant,” Dr. Moghaddam joined Jian from Washington DC for an animated and memorable discussion about the psychology of authoritarianism and the state of democracy in Iran and the rest of the world. Plus another instalment of our most beloved Roqe Funnies is revisited when we deconstruct the strange and disproportionate attraction that Iranians in Canada seem to have with visiting the water wonder that is Niagara Falls.

Another edition for the Best of Roqe series featuring an interview with award-winning surgeon, entrepreneur, activist, and Netflix star, Dr. Sheila Nazarian, joining Jian from Los Angeles. Plus an all-time favourite of the Roqe Funnies revisited, “Mojtaba and the Garage.”

As part of The Best of Roqe series, two feature interviews with two preeminent broadcast stars of Iranian media. First up, Iran International journalist, TV presenter and entrepreneur, Fardad Farahzad, joins Jian for a comprehensive conversation about his career and personal journey to date. And then, popular BBC Persian TV personality, artist, and producer, Behzad Bolour sits down for his first ever major interview in English.

Another installment of “The Best of Roqe” series featuring an interview with acclaimed author, poet and scholar, Farzaneh Milani. Dr. Milani, a professor of Persian literature and women’s studies at the University of Virginia, joins Jian to recount her story of emigrating from Iran to America and becoming a foremost authority on Iranian women writers, her passion for female literature - and Forough Farrokhzad in particular - and what she has recently termed, a “threshold” perspective among writers in the diaspora. Plus, one of the team’s favourite comedic moments is revisited with a Roqe Funny about pizza and ketchup.

An action-packed episode from "The Best of Roqe," featuring two extraordinary fighters who have overcome incredible odds. First, Alireza "Razor Ali" Ghadiri, the resilient Iranian-British boxer, who has triumphed over tragedy to become a rising star in Britain's boxing scene. Then, we meet Pannie "Banzai" Kianzad, the Iranian-Swedish MMA star and UFC signee, shares her journey to the top and her quest for the world championship. Join us for inspiring stories of perseverance and determination in the world of combat sports.

As part "The Best of Roqe" series, a feature interview with leading attorney, professor and author, Mehrangiz Kar. Mehrangiz is a celebrated human rights activist who was one of the first female attorneys to oppose the Islamization of gender relations following the Iranian Revolution of 1979. She became an active public defender in Iran’s civil and criminal courts. She joins Jian in the Roqe Studio for a very intimate and personal interview about her life…from her early years in Ahvaz and her female role models, to becoming a prominent lawyer and her fight for human rights, to her imprisonment, her exile, and dealing with the tragic death of her late husband.

Another episode is part of 'The Best of Roqe' series, featuring Iranian-American political satirist, actor, TV/radio broadcaster, and monologist, Kambiz Hosseini. Kambiz joins Jian to discuss his life journey, his broadcasting style, and more. Plus, one of the team's favourite comedic moments is revisited with a Roqe Funny.

Another episode as part of "The Best of Roqe" series featuring a man hailed as the “finest translator of Persian poetry.” Award-winning British poet, and leading scholar of Persian Literature, Dr. Dick Davis, joins Jian to discuss his life journey, his love for Iran and Persian culture, and his mission. Plus, one of the teams favorite comedic moments is revisited with a Roqe Funny.