Roqe

Feature interviews with two dynamic Iranian-Canadians: Award-winning Sergeant Kamyar Mahinsa, and trailblazing politician and a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, Goldie Ghamari. Kam Mahinsa joins Jian from Vancouver to tell his personal story of becoming the first Iranian police officer in Vancouver, his passion for outreach and giving back to the community, and his growing profile as a uniform activist for freedom in Iran. Then, Goldie is live in the Roqe Studio to talk about all things politics, share her personal story - including become the first woman of Iranian descent to hold elected office in Canada, and to discuss the ongoing revolution in Iran. Plus, Pegah joins Jian for the Roqe Roundup to discuss Tina Turner’s passing, an Iranian-content nightly address from President Zelensky, Iranians at the Cannes Film Festival, and upcoming exhibitions and tours happening in Italy and Australia.

A feature interview with Iranian virtuoso violinist, musician, composer, songwriter, and singer Bijan Mortazavi live in the Roqe Studio. Jian has an in depth and unfiltered 90 minute exchange with Bijan about his musical journey, rise to fame, migration from Iran, and so much more. Plus, Pegah and Jian are joined by Super P and Savvy Roham for the Roqe Roundup where Jian calls out Super P for her lack of “tarof” skills and the team discusses the latest news in Iran including the devastating prospect of more unjust executions, and the latest from the Iranian diaspora.

A new edition of Roqe focusing on grief, resilience and recovery. Feature interviews in the Roqe Studio with Iranian-Canadian grief recovery specialist and popular life coach and speaker Mitra Mohamadzadeh, and then Iranian-Canadian athlete and rapper, Tymaz Bagbani, who shares his inspiring dramatic story of surviving three life-threatening bouts with cancer even though he’s still only in his early 20s. Plus, Jian starts the show addressing the most recent executions in Iran of two atheists with an opening essay entitled, “What is More Important than the Freedom to Think?” and Pegah joins for a Roqe Roundup that looks at the fallout from the latest actions of the government in Iran, and the Swedish Parliament taking important action to place the IRGC on the terrorist list.

A feature interview with popular Iranian singer, songwriter, performer and recording artist, Farnaz Maleki, known as Satin. Satin joins Jian live in the Roqe Studio for her first major interview in English and tells the story of fighting the odds to be a female singer inside Iran, her rise to fame and a massive global following for her catchy pop songs, her contribution to the soundtrack of the widely popular Shahrzad TV series, and her actual predilection for sad songs and mournful melodies. Plus, Jian begins the show with a brief but important note on the most recent executions taking place in Iran.

Interviews with outstanding young Iranian-German singer, songwriter, pianist and Voice Persia finalist, Ayda Rastgoo, and returning guest, life coach and stress recovery specialist, Solmaz Barghgir. Ayda joins Jian from Hamburg to tell her personal story of pursuing her passions and becoming a rising star across the Iranian world despite being only 17. Then, Solmaz is in the Roqe Studio to talk about the dysfunction of the diaspora and her ideas around a new more empathetic approach to supporting the freedom movement in Iran. Plus, Pegah joins Jian to discuss fake Prada shoes, the news of 3 Iranian female journalists winning the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize, Raisi and Assad meeting in Syria, Vahid Beheshti’s hunger strike, and a vibrant Persian film festival taking place in Sydney.

A feature interview with distinguished Iranian-American photojournalist, scientific explorer, and "master of the night sky," Babak Tafreshi. Babak joins Jian from Boston for an in-depth conversation about his work within the field of astronomy, his personal journey and migration from Iran to the United States, and his research on the sky, including mind-bending concepts of time and space.

A new edition of Roqe featuring interviews with rock musician and winner of The Voice Persia, Amin Yahyazadeh, and martial arts Master Badri Ricciardelli. Amin joins Jian from Istanbul to tell the tale of a misfit heavy metal kid from Mashhad who ends up leaving Iran with his band and winning a major television singing show last month. Then, Master Badri is in the Roqe Studio to chronicle her dramatic journey of overcoming challenges - including injuries from a life-threatening accident - to become a Taekwondo and martial arts Master later in her life. Plus, Pegah joins Jian to discuss Uber misadventures, Vegas, Arsenal, and a Roqe Roundup that assesses the latest dysfunction and disunity of opposition figures in the diaspora, six months of solitary for Toomaj, and a new set of workers strikes in Iran.

A new edition of Roqe featuring a special interview with popular Iranian-American rapper, recording artist, producer and activist, Erfan Paydar. Erfan joins Jian in the Roqe Studio in Toronto for a wide-ranging, passionate and very personal interview about the recent uprising for freedom in Iran, his role in speaking out as a prominent Iranian voice, and his perspective on the growing dysfunction and disunity of the opposition movement in the diaspora.

A new wide-ranging edition of Roqe including a feature interview with Iranian-American entrepreneur and youtube content creator Farzad Mesbahi in Austin, Texas. In this heartfelt conversation, Farzad tells Jian the story of going from an immigrant kid who was a Tesla super-fan, to a Tesla employee and program manager, only to leave and become a rising YouTube star. Then Kayvon Zand, gender queer nightlife personality, actor, and musician returns to Roqe to talk about the upcoming Persian Parade in NYC. Plus, Jian opens the show with an essay about keeping the focus of the international community on political prisoners in Iran, and Super P (Parissa) joins the Roqe Roundup with Pegah and Jian to discuss Reza Pahlavi’s visit to Israel, the bravery of actress Pantea Bahram, and legal proceedings initiated in Sweden against the Islamic Republic regime.

A new edition of Roqe featuring a special interview and performance with famed Iranian singer, songwriter, guitarist, and composer, Mazyar Fallahi. In this wide-ranging conversation, Mazyar sits down with Jian live in the Roqe Studio to share his dramatic journey from early life in Iran, to forced exile, to Ukraine, and more recently, Germany. He shares his passion for music and freedom in Iran and his activism during the current uprising. Plus, Mazyar performs two songs live in the Roqe Studio with friend and bandmate, Dr. Pouria Sabetian.